Budgie honour a feather in the cap for bird buffs at national championships

By Sam Burgess
Fri 14 Jun 2013, 10:50 AM AEST

Hundreds of birds and people are set to flock to southern Queensland's Darling Downs this weekend for the national budgerigar championships.

Toowoomba's Empire Theatre usually hosts plays and concerts but this weekend another form entertainment takes off.

The National Budgerigar Council Championship will see 400 birds compete in 27 classes.

Organiser Wayne Robinson says competition is fierce and only the best reach the top of the pecking order.

"It's a massive task - four months just to get the bird here and then you've got to try and compete with every other breeder to get your bird first because of the number of qualifying shows to be here," he said.

"Only the best two budgerigars from each state or zone compete to be the national champion.

"There's 27 classes and those two birds compete with the best other 12 birds in Australia."

Despite their image as a humble pet, a prize budgie does not come cheep with some breeds fetching up to $6,000.